Csaba Zvekan

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Csaba Zvekan

Csaba Zvekan performing in Stade de France, Paris with Killing Machine 2010
Background information
Birth name Csaba Zvekan
Born (1968-03-30) March 30, 1968
Origin Subotica, Serbia
Genres Doom metal, Heavy metal, hard rock, instrumental rock, progressive rock
Occupations Composer, Musician, Producer,
Instruments Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums, Yamaha CS-80
Years active 1988 - present
Labels GoldenCore/ZYX Music, Mausoleum Records, Big MAXX, Dream Records, Koch Records, Rock'N Growl Records
Associated acts Exorcism, Raven Lord, Killing Machine, Sardonyx, Emergency
Website Official website
Notable instruments
Yamaha CS-80, Sequential Circuits T8, Gibson Les Paul Custom Shop

Csaba Zvekan is a musician and better known as the singer for Exorcism, Raven Lord, Sardonyx,[1] Emergency and Warpdrive[2] and was also the singer and songwriter for Killing Machine during (2008–2011). Csaba Zvekan also played and/or recorded with members of Kiss, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, W.A.S.P., Anthrax, Great White, Steve Vai, The Black Crowes, Slayer, Testament, Elf, Dio, Rainbow and Gary Moore among others.

Early life

Csaba Zvekan was born March 30, 1968 in Subotica formerly Yugoslavia now Serbia.The son of Ernest Zvekan a bel canto singer from croatia and Susanna Zvekan - Müller. By the age of 4 the family eventually moved to Basel, Switzerland where the parents found work and Csaba Zvekan was raised. The musical ambitious parents sent Csaba Zvekan to the musical academy to tutor him in violin, flute and classical guitar.In the age of 7 Csaba Zvekan played classical concertos and solos in front of an audience.

First steps

Influenced early by bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Manfred Mann's Earth Band Csaba Zvekan soon switched from acoustic guitar to an electric guitar with distortion. It was probably around 1980 when the first garage band was formed. Just a couple of years later Csaba Zvekan has made new experiences in a recording studio by recording some originals on a 4 track machine.On these early recordings Csaba Zvekan would be playing most of the instruments by himself. After the demo tape was circulating for a while the band Emergency was highly interested in hiring Csaba Zvekan to be their singer.

Emergency (1986-1989)

Csaba Zvekan joined the band Emergency around 1986. Several shows have been played locally . One to mention was the opening act for guitar hero Angi Schiliro former guitarist for ZeroP, Kingdom Come for whom he is still good friends with. The first record contract came for Emergency in 1988 when the German record company Big MAXX records offered a production deal to them. It was Raymond Bacharach a relative to the famous composer Burt Bacharach who produced and released the record "Turn Around" a year later. Unhappy with the performance of some of the band members of Emergency Csaba Zvekan has lined up a new band to come.

Sardonyx (1988-1990)

The three piece band Sardonyx with the members Csaba Zvekan on the vocals, Walther Sarbach on Guitars and Manuel Montañana playing the drums was formed probably around 1988. All though earlier jam formations have been spotted. The independent record label Dream records has produced their first album "Open Gates"[3] and was distributed all over Europe and later imported into the US market. The record has been distributed by the German company Semaphore and SPV. Since the record was limited in press the today's price is over $40 and goes under rarity .

The Hollywood years

Csaba Zvekan moved to Hollywood, CA in 1990. It started out as visit to his dear friend Manuel Montañana who attended Percussion Institute of Technology (PIT). Then later Walther Sarbach joined Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT) and the three would be united again. All though Sardonyx would never perform or record in these days again. Ideas and interests would be shared by them. Csaba Zvekan was always on the look out for new bands and it just happened that one day he would meet Adam St. James . Adam St. James was a former member of the band Bible black . With his entirely new formed band he was looking for some power metal vocals. It was around 1992 when Adam met Csaba Zvekan and hired him to join his band Calling toy. Csaba Zvekan recorded new material with Calling toy in the same year. That was the time when he meet important people from Paramount Recording Studios . Calling toy eventually replaced their drummer with Derrick Pontier who nowadays plays in bands like Great White and with Paul Shortino.Adam St. James still continues playing in bands, teaching guitar and wrote many guitar books.

Sound engineering

The fascination with technology has always been big with Csaba Zvekan. Demo tapes and song ideas would be a constant way of life. In fact the first Sardonyx demo tape in 1988 was entirely recorded and mixed by Csaba Zvekan alone in his living room on an 8-track tape recorder. With special mix and bounce (ping pong) techniques he would make the recording sound as it was made on a 24 - multitrack recorder. 1989 Csaba Zvekan had his first commercial recording studio named "Crystal Studios" . Containing 24-Track analog Otari MKII and a 24 Track inline analog console. The whole studio inventory was sold prior to moving to Los Angeles to Angi Schiliro. Csaba Zvekan then worked later for Paramount Recording Studios in and around 1992–1993 doing second and first engineering. This is where he would meet and work with influential people like Steve Vai, The Black Crowes, Randy Castillo just to mention a few.

Rough Angel

It was around 1993 when Csaba Zvekan met Jimmy Z. the lead guitar player and founder of Rough Angel.Rough Angel played a few shows around Hollywood and were opening act at the "Country Club" in Reseda, CA . Due to their popularity a sponsor was found to finance some new recordings. This work was done again at Paramount Recording Studios. The players were Csaba Zvekan vocals, Jimmy Z. lead guitar, Mike Mougavero guitar, Ross Manzo Bass, Dave Kappos drums. On September 1, 1993 Csaba Zvekan and Molly Mee Wren are getting married in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Little Chapel of the Flowers. But the happy days would not last long as the relationship takes a turn. Rough Angel bass player Ross Manzo would get involved in a relationship with Csaba Zvekan's wife Molly Mee Wren and the two would soon take off to Florida. But this was also breaking the band and Rough Angel would be silent from then on. On November 30. 2011 Rough Angel's EP from 1993 was digitally released worldwide on Rock N Growl Records.[4]

Stream

Just when Csaba Zvekan moved back to Switzerland in 1994 he receives a call from Peter Scheithauer a long time friend he used to work with during 1989 on a couple of Peter's bands : Lazily and later Stream .Peter Scheithauer was asking Csaba Zvekan to sing on a new record with Stet Howland drums and Dave Spitz on Bass guitar. They recorded some 4 Songs but the record company replaced the vocals with David Reece a better known singer. "Take it or leave it" was released 1994. On a later date 1996 Peter Scheithauer wanted to do more demos for an upcoming record he was scheduled. Csaba Zvekan and Peter Scheithauer went to the studio and did some pre-production demo work. Unfortunately these recordings were abandoned cause a new singer for Stream was found . It was David Glen Eisley that finished the " Nothing is Sacred" album that was released in 1997.

Resurrection of Dream Records

When Csaba Zvekan moved back to Switzerland in 1998 so did Dream Records. The company may have been inactive for several years. But the publishing part with SUISA very similar to the American counterpart ASCAP was still active. Csaba Zvekan has been a member of SUISA since early compositions like 1986. Soon the publishing label received a recording studio called "dream studio" and followed with "dream media" to produce the music video. Maurice Bettle and Csaba Zvekan created "Dream Entertainment" which merged all the sub companies together in one production label.

Passion for Synthesizers

Csaba Zvekan's passion for computers and electronics goes back to the eighties. But when he got his hands on a silent and defective Yamaha CS-80[5] it was a challenge to make this collectors item work again. He spent several month restoring this old vintage synthesizer from the 70's. Videos can be watched on youtube to demonstrate how it sounds.

Killing Machine

As of September 2009 Csaba Zvekan a full member and part of the composer/songwriter for the band Killing Machine.[6] He is replacing Mike Vescera and James Rivera. The complete line up Peter Scheithauer on guitar, Jari Kainulainen bass and Jon Dette on drums. The band was the supporting act for AC/DC's Black Ice World Tour on the French leg. They played in front of 130'000 spectators in Nice, Stade Charles Ehrman and Paris, Stade de France. Later started their summer festivals with Graspop Metal Meeting 2010 with another 80'000 heavy metal fans. Jari Kainulainen was replaced by Jochen Mayer for the Wacken Open Air and Foire aux vins, Colmar. After no real interest from the industry and a lack of funds for production Csaba has decided to leave the band As of March 2011. The unpublished demo songs have been made available for fans and friends as a free download.

Raven Lord

In March 2011 Csaba Zvekan has signed a promotion and management contract with Rock N Growl Records, Germany.[7] Shortly after that the band Raven Lord was announced.[8] On October 27. 2012 the band Raven Lord announced to be signed with Mausoleum Records for a two album deal. Mausoleum Records released the debut album Descent to the Underworld on February 1. 2013 in Europe and on February 12. 2013 in Northern America.[9]

Exorcism

Csaba Zvekan originally found the band Exorcism back in 2006 and composed demo recordings entirely by himself. Unable to find the right band line up with a recording contract the material was put on hold. In 2013 Exorcism found interest and was signed by Golden Core Records, Germany.

Discography

1980s

  • Emergency - "Demo 1988"
  • Emergency - Turn Around
  • Sardonyx - "Demo 1989"

1990s

  • Sardonyx - Open Gates
  • Thyron - Thunder & Lightning
  • Danger - Danger
  • ODD - Growing
  • Rain'N Steel - Hell and Damnation
  • Lazily - Dirty and Wild
  • Calling Toy - Behind the eight ball
  • Rough Angel - Hear the Angels Rock
  • Stream - Take it or leave it

2000s

  • Warpdrive - God save the queen
  • Warpdrive - Get ready to trance
  • Marcos del Sol - Psalm 23
  • Warpdrive feat. Enya - May it be
  • Maurice Armand - Never Ever
  • Two 4 you - My Love is not enough
  • Exorcism - End of days (demo)

2010s

Notes

  1. ↑ Sardonyx "Open Gates" with Csaba Zvekan on vocals, retrieved 2007-03-02 
  2. ↑ official myspace page of Warpdrive, retrieved 2010-02-18 
  3. ↑ Sardonyx "Open Gates", retrieved 2004-05-12 
  4. ↑ Rough Angel to release lost tracks from 1993, retrieved 2011-12-23 
  5. ↑ Review about Yamaha CS-80 with courtesy picture by Csaba Zvekan, retrieved 2010-05-09 
  6. ↑ Interview with Guitarist Peter Scheithauer, retrieved 2007-03-10 
  7. ↑ Csaba Zvekan signed with Rock N Growl, retrieved 2011-08-28 
  8. ↑ Raven Lord announce line up and release 2 demo songs, retrieved 2011-08-28 
  9. ↑ Raven Lord - Descent to the Underworld, retrieved 2013-02-08 

References

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